[C320-list] Hull cleaning and waxing tips

[Mike Ott]

Hello all,
I'm looking to do a full hull cleaning and waxing, and by the look of the gelcoat it hasn't been done in a quite a while.  I'm thinking of a full wash, then acetone wipe down, followed by rubbing compound and then wax.   I'll use a electric buffer, but it still this sounds like a big job.  Just writing this is making me feel tried already.
Any tips or tricks would be appreciated, also any recommendations for wax and rubbing compound.
Mike Ott
'Amanda Lu'
#508

[hcr...@comcast.net]

Mike,
Someone on the list suggested Meguiar's Products last year. Prior to that I was using Collinite 920 and Fleet Wax, now as a result of that suggestion I am using Meguiar's
Color Restorer and Polish(2 separate products), followed by Fleet wax. At the end of the season my hull has never looked better. Rubbing compound may be necessary because of oxidation, but you might try a sample area with these products first and see how well it works.

herb Creech
Cloud Chaser 606

[Jim Sweet]

Mike,

I use Meguiars 49 to cut the oxidation every 2-3 years and Meguiars 50 combo
polishing compound/wax the other years. Keeps the hull like new. Of
course, we're in the frozen north so sun isn't as big an issue for us.

Jim Sweet
TGIF (Thank God It Floats) 901

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Ott" <wm...@yahoo.com>
To: "Catalina 320 Association" <C320...@Catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 10:32 AM
Subject: [C320-list] Hull cleaning and waxing tips

[Jeff Hare]

Hi Mike,

There are probably lots of good answers out there.

I use collinite 920 cleaner, followed by Fleet wax each year.

I don't bother with a electric buffer anymore, it didn't save me any time and wasn't any easier either, given the need to frequently clean and change pads. It got heavy pretty quickly and left streaks that took time to get out whenever the pad got clogged. It was a 12" pro quality rand/orbital buffer. I tried a cheap one once and gave up on that.

I set up two tall step ladders and a long plank, use a couple dozen hand towel size rags and make two trips around the boat. Once to clean the surface with the 920 and the second to wax. Takes me about 4 hours, some tunes and a rack of beer by myself and I'm done. :)

The 920 chemically cleans the surface. Does a great job. No signs of chalking since 2001. We'll see how it does in the future.

I think the mcguiers color restorer might help occasionally if the boot stripe is looking faded, but good quality wax should make that not necessary very often. Fleetwax is recommended for airplanes, so that says something about its durability, I guess.

From what I recall, the boot stripe is blue gelcoat sprayed into the mould before the rest of the hull's white gelcoat and fiberglass are layered in. So its not painted on.

-jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Ott <wm...@yahoo.com>
Sender: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 07:32:46
To: Catalina 320 Association<C320...@Catalina320.com>
Reply-To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Hull cleaning and waxing tips

[ericstill...@gmail.com]

I used fleet wax on top sides. Did you use the Collinite and fleet wax on the top sides as well?

Rick 724
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

[Paul Rickman]

Hi Mike,

This is what works for me. Wash the entire boat with Simple Green -- should take
off the

oxidation and any old wax. Using a rag put on 3M Imperial Micro-finishing
Compound
Liquid. Using an electric buffer, Buff it until it is all gone, should bring up
the shine.

3M Part NR 051131-06011 A Quart Bottle. This is a very very fine compounding
agent.

I then use Collinite #870, Special Heavy Duty Fleet Wax -- recommended for cars,
boats

and planes. Two coats if you have time.

I'd skip the Acetone wipe.

Paul
Affinity 657
Bay Bridge Marina
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

 

________________________________
From: Mike Ott <wm...@yahoo.com>

To: Catalina 320 Association <C320...@Catalina320.com>

Sent: Thu, November 11, 2010 10:32:46 AM

Subject: [C320-list] Hull cleaning and waxing tips

Hello all,

[Paul Rickman]

One more thing, I agree that electric buffers and wax really don't work
all that well, certainly not with the Fleet Wax. I do use a rag for that.

On the micro-finishing compound, my son does a trick on the pad with
a screw driver that cleans it. I personally have only watched the
miracle unfold.

 

________________________________
From: Paul Rickman <ilove...@verizon.net>
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Sent: Thu, November 11, 2010 2:36:50 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hull cleaning and waxing tips

[Jon Vez]

I'm also a huge advocate of Collinite Fleet (#850) for the waxing part of
the job--the paste is the one that will last the longest. Once you get the
oxidation off and use the Collinite Fleet wax, it will be years before you
have to do any compounding.